What do package symbols mean?
Nowadays numerous labels appear on lots of everyday items, therefore understanding these packaging symbols is crucial for a consumer. Packaging symbols advise consumers about the product and promote environmental claims. Recycling of packaging by customers is encouraged by the use of special logos.
Why are symbols used on packaging?
Symbols are a common feature on our everyday products and packaging. Spanning from food allergy symbols, to recycling information, to symbols highlighting safety standards, symbols are often placed on products and packaging to provide important information, indicate consumer rights or to comply with regulations.
What does the umbrella symbol mean on a box?
Keep DryKeep Dry. The umbrella with rain drop s symbol on packaging indicates that the box (and contents) should be kept dry. A variation showing just the umbrella can also be used. Fragile.
What does the lion symbol mean on packaging?
Created in 1988, when the Lion mark is displayed on a product it means that the manufacturer/retailer has agreed to the 'British Toy and Hobby Associations' Code of practice. It is a consumer symbol that represents the manufacturers promise to conform to all relevant safety information.
How are the symbols usually presented?
Symbols take the form of words, sounds, gestures, ideas, or visual images and are used to convey other ideas and beliefs. For example, a red octagon is a common symbol for "STOP"; on maps, blue lines often represent rivers; and a red rose often symbolizes love and compassion.
What do the arrows on packaging mean?
The symbol, represented by three separate arrows looped into a triangle, means that the product is recyclable, but it does not indicate that the product will be accepted in all recycling collection systems.
What does a wine glass on a box mean?
Food Package If the wineglass symbol isn't broken and is accompanied by a fork, this means that there are food items inside the box. This means that the package has perishable goods and must be delivered as soon as possible.
What does the wine glass mean on packaging?
The broken wine glass suggests that the product inside the packaging could be easily damaged if dropped or handled without care and attention. The contents are fragile ! The two hands holding or protecting the package is another reminder that the contents should be handled with care.
What does the C mean on packaging?
Copyright SymbolsCopyright Symbols The letter "C" in a circle may be used as part of a statutory copyright notice (with the year of first publication and the owner's name or recognized abbreviation).
What does a red lion in a yellow triangle mean?
The Lion Mark is a British consumer symbol developed in 1988 by British Toy & Hobby Association and used to identify toys denoted as safe and of high quality. It represents a red and white lion face in a triangle with a yellow background and green borders.
What symbol shows something is recyclable?
The three green arrows going in a triangle simply means that it's capable of being recycled. Sometimes, the symbol will come with a percentage in the middle, signifying how much of it has been made from recycled materials. Three arrows in a triangle means that the item is capable of being recycled.
Which symbols can be recycled?
How to know what plastics can be recycled Plastic Recycling Symbol #1: PET or PETE. ... Plastic Recycling Symbol #2: HDPE. ... Plastic Recycling Symbol #3: PVC or V. ... Plastic Recycling Symbol #4: LDPE. ... Plastic Recycling Symbols #5: PP. ... Plastic Recycling Symbol #6: PS. ... Plastic Recycling Symbol #7: Miscellaneous.
What does the box symbol mean?
If the packaging holds this symbol, it means that the contents must never be carried sideways or upside-down as they might break. It’s also a good indication of which side to open the box from.
What does the recycle sign mean on a box?
The recycle symbols signifies that a part of the box has been recycled before, made from recycled materials, or that the entire box can be recycled after use. This symbol is a representation of sustainable practices on the part of the shipper.
What does the handle with care sign mean?
Unlike the fragile sign, the handle with care sign signifies that the box must not be stacked and should be loaded and carried around with lots of care.
What does the prohibition sign on a box mean?
A person trying to lift the box with a prohibition sign on it is the symbol telling you that the box may be too heavy to lift alone. You might need a trolley or the help of a second person. Watch out for either of these symbols as shown below.
What does it mean when you see two horizontal bars with a number on top?
If you see two parallel horizontal bars with a number on top, it signifies the stack height. This would depend on the contents inside the box and the thickness and strength of the box itself. Make sure to check the number of the symbol (it isn’t always the same).
What does an umbrella mean in a box?
The umbrella signifies the need to keep the box in a dry environment and never leave it in the rain. This symbol also tells you that the items inside the box are not waterproof.
What does the "protect from direct sunlight" sign mean?
The ‘protect from direct sunlight’ sign shows a box under sunlight with a line across it. This could mean that the contents inside the box can be damaged when placed under the sun (e.g. food) or that they are flammable and can burn (see the next symbol).
What is the purpose of packaging symbols?
Packaging symbols to protect shipped goods. All these packaging symbols are used to indicate the instructions to follow when storing, handling and shipping a package. Depending on the specific nature of your goods and with the aim of maximizing their protection during shipment, several of these symbols may have to be placed on the same package.
What does the arrow symbol on packaging mean?
This symbol, representing two arrows pointing upwards, gives an important indication to the persons in charge of handling the packaging.
What does the symbol "handling with care" mean?
Goods to handle with care. This symbol also indicates that the packaging must be handled with care to avoid damaging its contents.
What does the thermometer symbol mean?
Depicting a thermometer, this symbol is generally found on packaging transporting foodstuffs or pharmaceutical products that are sensitive to temperature variations. It indicates that the packaging must be kept at a certain temperature so that the contents are not altered.
What does the ISPM-15 logo mean?
The ISPM-15 logo, for wood intended for export. This logo refers to the International Standard for Phytosanitary Measures, also known as ISPM15. This applies only to wooden packaging intended for export, such as pallets or wooden crates.
What is the flame symbol on a package?
The flame is a symbol on packaging that contains easily flammable products that can burn quickly. Each person involved throughout the journey should therefore take care to keep the packaging away from heat and fuel sources. Packaging symbols to protect shipped goods.
Why do we need to decontaminate wooden packages?
Every day, many wooden packages are transported around the world to ship all kinds of goods. In order to prevent the spread of pests from one continent to another , this standard requires that all wooden packaging be decontaminated at very high temperatures. A symbol for fragile goods.
What is gluten free packaging?
Gluten free – Packaging of product that do not contain wheat extracts. More information – More information about the product is in the packaging. Customer satisfaction – If consumer is not happy, he can return the product.
What is the green dot?
The Green dot – Manufacturer contributes to recycling of the packaging. Recycle Glass. Mobius loop – International symbol for recycling. Ecolabel – Used by manufacturers of environmentally-friendly products.
What does the weight symbol mean in packaging?
Contents Weight. A weight symbol indicates the weight of the packaging (including contents). This can allow users to decide how best to handle the packaging, as well decide which boxes (if there are differing variants) they require. The number within the symbol can be changed as appropriate.
What does the symbol of a sack truck with boxes stacked on it mean?
The symbol of a sack / pallet truck with boxes stacked on it indicates to the user that this form of assistance should be used to move multiple items at a time.
What does the kitemark logo mean?
Resembling a kite, the “Kitemark” logo is a trademark of the British Standards Institute, and indicates that the product within the packaging meets specific standards (ascertained by ongoing testing). Please note permission for use is required.
What is CE logo?
The CE logo is used to declare that the product within the packaging meets the applicable requirements of specific EC directives (this only applies to specific product types). Please note that permission for use is required.
What does the number in the middle of a box mean?
The number in the middle box can indicate stacking height, or provide a weight.
What does a fork next to a glass mean?
A fork next to a glass is the international symbol of “food safe” material. It effectively means that the material used in the product / packaging is safe for food contact, and will not leach dangerous substances etc
What does a horizontal line with two vertical arrows pointing upwards mean?
A horizontal line with two vertical arrows pointing upwards indicates which way up the packaging should be kept during storage / transit. Can sometimes be used with the explicit text “This Way Up”.
This Side Up
One of the most common symbols that you will find on the packaging is the “This Side Up” image. This symbol is a square that has two arrows pointing upwards. This gives direction to package handlers that the product should always be stored and shipped in a specific manner to protect the contents.
Fragile
When shipping various products out across the world, a package will need to be moved around a lot. If something is fragile within the box, it could quickly become damaged if the package is not handled with care. To ensure that all people handle a package the right way, fragile items are stored in boxes with a fragile symbol or label.
Handle With Care
Similar to fragile packages, some packages should be handled with care. Even if something would not necessarily break in transit, some items should be cared for throughout the process. Two hands that carefully protect and grasp a small object typically characterize the handle with a care symbol.
Flammable Materials
While many package symbols are designed to help ensure that the underlying contents are not damaged, others are created to help ensure everyone is safe during the transportation process. If you are transporting a flammable product, handling it a certain way is crucial and keeping it away from extreme heat or open flames.
Heavy Package Symbols
There are also symbols that identity when a package is heavy and needs additional care when lifting it. If you see a symbol that shows two people carrying a box, it is a sign that multiple people should lift the box together. For even heavier packages, you could see an image that shows the use of a dolly to move a package.
Stacking Restriction Symbols
When sending boxes through the transportation process, there are bound to be situations in which they will need to be stacked on one another. However, there are situations in which boxes should not be stacked too high. If a box is not strong enough to withstand the pressure, it could collapse, and its contents can be damaged.